AP bans use of words “husband,” “wife” for legally-wed gay couples [View all]

[DonViejo]

2/12/2013 1:37pm by John Aravosis 55

Shortly after an internal AP memo banning the use of the words “husband” and “wife” for legally-wed gay couples was leaked, AP changed its story – they think they fixed the problem. They most certainly did not. AP even tweeted me that it’s fixed.

But it’s not fixed at all.

Now AP has a ban on the terms husband and wife for gay couples unless the couples use the term about themselves. Is that AP’s standard for straight couples too? Only call straight people husband and wife if the couple calls themselves husband and wife? I doubt it.

From AP’s memo:

SAME-SEX COUPLES: We were asked how to report about same-sex couples who call themselves “husband” and “wife.” Our view is that such terms may be used in AP content if those involved have regularly used those terms (“Smith is survived by his husband, John Jones”) or in quotes attributed to them. Generally AP uses couples or partners to describe people in civil unions or same-sex marriages.

-snip-

http://americablog.com/2013/02/ap-bans-use-of-words-husband-wife-for-legally-wed-gay-couples.html